Perfect Risk (Mason Creek #1) - C.A. Harms Page 0,3

grease monkey, with purple streaks in her hair, and shiny lip gloss.

The best of both worlds, like I said, strong willed and determined.

She held a wild streak, that purple hair of hers. Compliments of herself, next week they could very well be pink instead. She was a stylist at Serenity the local salon in town and her style had really created a name for herself. She’s pretty popular with the younger crowd, wild and adventurous some might say. She had never afraid to try something others may fear. Her hair, or yours was her canvas, it was up to you if you chose to give her free rein in order to get creative and daring.

“Fine, but I’m taking these.” I reached out and snagged her keys off the floor where she dropped them in her hurry to tackle me. “You won’t be leaving me without these.”

With her mouth hanging open she remained seated on my bed and scowled as I swiveled around and walked to the bathroom feeling as if I’d outwitted the wittiest woman I know.

God, how I’d missed her.

Walking into Java Jitters, there were several familiar faces sitting around enjoying their morning brew. All offering smiles and a wave, some saying it was nice to have me back home where I belong. Others, those closer to my parents, hugged me and mentioned my arrival had brightened my father’s mood tremendously. I laughed a little because to me, my dad was nothing more than a kind soul. Granted to others, he was stronger, firm, and very direct. Not everyone knew exactly how to take him. He took some warming up to.

Anna and I stood in line, breathing in the aromas of blended coffee and sugary sweetness. The vanilla, hazelnut…I was a coffee whore, I loved it so much.

“What can I get for you ladies?” Jessie looked a little different from what she did back when I was still living here. She was a very pretty girl, always had been. I’d been a little envious of her auburn hair, it was the perfect color and always looked so soft.

“I’ll take a double chocolate blended iced mocha.” Anna was bouncing on the balls of her feet like a schoolgirl. Both myself and Jessie looked her over. Her son was just like her, wired and spunky.

“Love the enthusiasm.” I looked back to Jessie finding her smiling at Anna before turning her attention to me. “And you?”

“Caramel macchiato.” Granted my order was a little less enthusiastic but definitely desired. I’d been practically salivating since we walked in and I smelled the scents engulfing me.

We paid, and then moved off to the side to await our order. It didn’t take long before Anna was in full-fledged gossip mode. Whispering about this person and that person, who married who, who had a one-night stand, and who got left at the altar. Secrets of alleged affairs, and so much more, it was a bit overwhelming.

I was so wrapped up in her whispering and trying to focus and keep up I’d missed the newest customer who entered the coffee shop. Suddenly I was lifted off my feet, spun around in a circle and the surprised squeal that ripped from me could have woken the dead.

“Well, if it isn’t little Miss City Girl.” I knew that voice. Once my feet were safely planted back on the floor, I turned to face none other than Levi James. He was no longer the scrawny boy from high school, definitely a man now. Tall, built from all the manual labor on his ranch, and confidence rolling off of him in waves. Just another person I’d missed desperately.

“Decided to return home finally?” He smiled, already knowing a little more detail about my city life than most. Levi had always been like a big brother to me, nothing more. We didn’t look at one another any other way. Over the years I was trying to tackle LA, he was my sounding board. He’d heard in great detail of all my failures and yes, even some of my accomplishments. Though I felt like those were few and far between. But talking on the phone or video chat was nothing like the real thing.

“I knew you missed me, so I felt like I’d better come back, for your sake.”

Grinning wide, that familiar gleam in his eyes, some things hadn’t changed. Most of the girls in town thought of him as dreamy and charming, they giggle in his presence and do about anything to gain his